Hamas

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (June 24 – July 1 ,2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks targeting Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorist operatives, including a senior operative in the Hamas military wing who was one of the planners of the October 7, 2023 attack and massacre. Seven IDF soldiers were killed in an explosion in the southern Gaza Strip, and another soldier was killed in the north; After the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran War, the United States, Qatar and Egypt increased efforts for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages, but fundamental disagreements remain regarding a long-term arrangement, Israeli withdrawal and the disarmament of Hamas. Hamas placed responsibility for the failure of the talks so far on Israel and continued to demand a complete end to the war; Hamas continued to promote its "hunger" narrative despite the increase in humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip during June 2025. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced it had distributed over fifty million meals within a month of beginning its operations; There were exchanges of fire between gangs, clans and Hamas security forces which led to more repressive measures against Gazans suspected of looting aid trucks and collaborating with Israel. Hamas was reportedly desperate for a ceasefire in order to deal with "rogue elements."; A Hamas delegation went to Iran to attend the funeral of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers and nuclear scientists killed in the Israel-Iran War. Hamas figures met with the head of Turkish intelligence; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria, during which a major Hamas terrorist network was uncovered in Hebron; The Palestinian Authority leadership welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and called for a political process on the Palestinian front as well.
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Spotlight on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (June 17 – 24, 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks against targets belonging to Hamas and the other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorist operatives, including the head of finances of the Hamas military wing. An IDF soldier was killed in the fighting in the southern Gaza Strip; Hamas denied reports of progress in the negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, and reiterated its demand for international guarantees to end the fighting; The Gaza Humanitarian Fund continued its daily distribution of food packages, despite Hamas claims of deliberate gunfire attacking Gazans arriving at aid centers and alleged Israeli abduction attempts. A local clan announced the establishment of a force to secure the aid trucks; Following reports that Israel had formulated a secret plan to eliminate the Hamas leadership abroad, the movement increased its precautionary measures; A letter sent by the head of the Hamas military wing to the Houthi chief of staff was published, despite reports that a new Hamas military- commander would only be appointed to replace Muhammad al-Sinwar after a ceasefire had been declared or at the end of the war; A Hamas delegation visited Russia, and a Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine delegation met with the Egyptian minister of intelligence; Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activities in Judea and Samaria, focusing on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus; The United States Supreme Court approved a law allowing families of victims of terrorist attacks to sue the Palestinian Authority and the PLO.
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (June 16–23, 2025)

IDF forces attacked Hezbollah weapons in south Lebanon and eliminated organization operatives as part of ongoing action against Hezbollah's presence in south Lebanon, contrary to the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and against the organization's renewed efforts to rebuild its military capabilities; Thomas Burke, United States special envoy for Syria, was appointed temporary envoy to Lebanon and met in Beirut with government officials who reiterated the need to end the Israeli "aggression and occupation." Burke urged them to advance the issue of dismantling the "resistance’s" weapons; Hezbollah continued to express support for Iran in the Israel-Iran War and condemned the threats against Iran's leader, Ali Khamenei, and the American attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. According to Hezbollah, Iran is capable of handling matters on its own, but the organization did not rule out the possibility that it might actively intervene if circumstances changed. Lebanese officials expressed confidence that the country would not be drawn into the military confrontation; In Lebanon, the PLO was blamed for the delay in weapons’ collection in the Palestinian refugee camps. Prime Minister Salam urged Palestinian Authority chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, to act on the understandings which had been reached on the issue.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (June 10 – 17 , 2025)

IDF forces continued extensive aerial and ground attacks on targets belonging to Hamas and the other terrorist organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian reports indicated a decrease in the intensity of the attacks and a withdrawal of forces from certain areas. Three IDF soldiers were killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip; No progress has been made in the negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages. Hamas denied Iranian involvement in the negotiations. A senior Hamas figure said the Israel-Iran War might lead to a temporary ceasefire in the Strip; The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation continued distributing food packages, for the first time operating all four of its distribution points in one day while facing Hamas accusations of deliberate gunfire on civilians who had come to the distribution centers; Hamas security forces in the Gaza Strip continued taking action against members of the armed militia of Yasser Abu Shabab, which receives support from Israel. Documents were published revealing Hamas' method for exploiting humanitarian aid entering the Strip; The land convoy with 1,500 volunteers which set out from Tunisia to the Rafah Crossing was forced to turn back after authorities in eastern Libya blocked its path and Egyptian authorities expelled foreign activists. Activists in Malaysia announced their intention to send a thousand vessels to "break the siege" on the Gaza Strip; IDF forces killed a terrorist who carried out a shooting at a checkpoint near the settlement of Hermesh in western Samaria. Israeli security forces continued extensive counterterrorism activity in Judea and Samaria; The Two-State Solution conference planned to be held in New York under the sponsorship of France and Saudi Arabia was postponed because of the Israel-Iran War. 
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Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (June 9 – 16, 2025)

IDF forces continued counteracting Hezbollah's presence in south Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement and against the organization's renewed efforts to rebuild its military capabilities; Senior Hezbollah figures and Lebanese government officials again called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to end its "violations" of the ceasefire. A senior Hezbollah figure claimed they did not expect Lebanon to launch a military conflict due to its weakness vis-à-vis Israel; The Lebanese army searched a building in the Dahiyeh al-Janoubia in coordination with the ceasefire supervision committee after having been given information by Israel about the presence of weapons; A disagreement was reported within the Lebanese leadership regarding the toughening of UNIFIL's mandate, which is expected to end in August 2025. Hezbollah claimed they supported extending the mandate; The Lebanese leadership condemned an incident in which a resident in south Lebanon was filmed hitting a UNIFIL soldier. The UNIFIL spokesman stressed the agency's right to conduct patrols without an escort of Lebanese army forces; The Lebanese prime minister said the country had regained control of Beirut's international airport and was waging a fight against smuggling. The American ambassador to Lebanon has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities' handling of the issue of Hezbollah’s disarmament; Disarming the Palestinian refugee camps has been postponed because of the Israel-Iran War and Internal-Palestinian disputes.
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“Resistance Axis” Reactions to the Israel-Iran Military Conflict

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a preemptive attack in Iran on dozens of military and security targets and sites of the nuclear program across Iran. More than 20 senior figures in the security leadership, military commanders and nuclear scientists were eliminated, including the commander of the armed forces and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards; Iran confirmed the deaths of the senior officials. Regime officials threatened that "the Zionist regime" would pay a "steep price," and the Revolutionary Guards launched Operation True Promise 3, attacking Israel with UAVs and ballistic missiles; Members of the "resistance axis" condemned Israel, accused it of "crossing red lines," and expressed solidarity with Iran;  According to reports, the Lebanese government conveyed a message to Hezbollah that it alone decided whether or not to go to war. A senior Hezbollah figure said the organization was satisfied with issuing a condemnation and did not plan to respond militarily against Israel; The Houthis claimed that they had attacked targets in Israel in coordination with the Iranians; The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq condemned Israel for violating Iraqi airspace during the attacks on Iran and threatened to take action against American interests if the United States joined the fighting alongside Israel. It was reported that the Iraqi prime minister conveyed messages to the militia leaders that he would act against them if they intervened in the war; Iran built the military capabilities of the Hezbollah-led "resistance axis" as a deterrent against Israel and as part of its response capabilities in the event of an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. The responses of the organizations were limited to condemnations, indicating the "resistance axis" had been weakened by Israel during the fighting in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon since October 7, 2023. In ITIC assessment, in light of the strategic changes in the Middle East, Hezbollah is currently restrained and the Lebanese government has, for now, successfully imposed its will on the organization. The Shi'ite militias in Iraq are also reluctant to intervene because of pressure from the Iraqi government. Therefore, at this stage, the "resistance axis" organizations, except the Houthis, will most likely not join the fighting. However, active American involvement alongside Israel could lead to an active response by the "resistance axis," especially in Iraq.
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